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“Mhm, cow’s milk is for baby cows. Besides, you should see the studies about what a plant-based diet does for your body. Especially, when it comes to sexual organs.”
“What benefit does it give sexual organs,” he asks, his eyes glinting with humor as he takes a seat across from me. “Please be specific.”
“Several hundred percent increase in blood flow to the nether region, causing erections to be harder and more frequent,” I say, matter-of-factly, trying not to flirt back with the dangerously beautiful man opposite me.
“You’re telling me all these old men popping penis pills could just stop eating meat?”
“Maybe. I don’t think that study has been done yet, but the way medicine treats an erection like it’s a golden calf, it won’t be long,” I answer. His smile widens, but he doesn’t say anything else as he looks at me. I wonder if he’s trying to figure me out just like I’m trying to figure him out. “Are you stalking me again, Damian?”
“Is it stalking if we’re friends?”
“Is that what we are?”
“I’d like to think so. You’re”—he hesitates for a moment—“easy to be around.”
There’s more to the statement than he’s telling, adding another layer of mystery to the man and ramping up my curiosity. But you know what they say about curiosity.
“Am I?”
“I’m helping Alexander move into his new place this weekend. Will you be around?”
“I’ll be around.” Come what may.
5
Zander
“Fane,” Coach hollers. “Back office after you’re changed.”
“Yes, Coach,” I say, trying to sound far less amped than I am. The back office means someone higher up the chain wants to talk to me. Which may mean I’m being dropped to the minors.
And wouldn’t that be my luck the day before I’m supposed to move into my own place.
Fuck.
“Settle down, Rook. Could mean anything,” Vaughn says. He pats my shoulder as he turns the corner of the locker room to the showers.
Admittedly, I’ve been romanticizing the idea of my own apartment. A safe place where I can be myself. Privacy is a dream I don’t always get. It felt so close, my fingertips nearly touching it. I roomed with another player in California. Ben is a solid guy, but I couldn’t have brought Damian home there. While he isn’t homophobic, he’s not necessarily trustworthy enough to keep his mouth shut either.
I only want a place that I can walk into, shut the door, and not feel like I still need to hide something. I like dick from time to time, it shouldn’t be such a big fucking deal. It’s nobody’s business who I choose to spend time with, and I wish the sport, the league, would catch up to that. Because, damn, I love this game. It’s my passion. I can’t be the only player with this same dilemma in the NHL. Or any other league, for that matter. Out of all the football, baseball, basketball teams, there must be plenty of men hiding their sexual preferences. It’s just not possible that they’re all perfectly straight. Or that they all fit into the box society requires of us.
Maybe I’m overreacting, but my gut tells me I’m not. Something the higher-ups have to say to me is going to sideline my plans. I’m sure of it as I take the stairs to the upper level of the Iceplex.
The general manager, Jonathon Markel, waits for me along with two women I recognize from my quick meetings when I was brought up, though I can’t recall their names just now. I don’t know why they’re here, but meeting with GM is a good sign I’m headed back to California.
“Hey, Zander,” he greets. “Come on in and have a seat.”
“Yes, sir.” I follow him inside the office. One woman, Audrey, I think, sits next to me, while the other stands to the side.
“You looked great at practice this morning. How are you doing with the move?”
“Good,” I say, a bit confused. “I start moving into my own place today.”
“That’s good news, Zander.”
“I’m sorry. Am I not being sent back down, sir?”
“No, Rook. That’s not why we’re meeting today. Audrey?”
